Control device for knitting machines



y 1962 R. SCHMIDT 3,035,425

CONTROL DEViCE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 24. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet1 I VVEIYTOR:

mm 51mm May 22, 1962 R. SCHMIDT CONTROL DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24. 1959 In/VE NTDQ'.

rmm WM mm. 'm A W May 22, 1962 R. SCHMlDT 3, 25

CONTROL DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 24, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet5 FIG. 7 27 INVENTOR.

gm 5M mm! 5. Wm

3 035 425 CONTROL onvrcn I ORKNITTING MACHINES Richard Schmidt,Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany, assignor to Franz Morat, G.m.b.H.,Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany Filed June 24, 1959, Ser. No. 822,679Claims priority, application Germany June 24, 1958 18 Claims. (Cl. 66--50) control device, placed in different positions for moving theneedles higher, or outward, to difierent extents.

The known control devices for the setting means of knitting machinespermit shifting only from a first to a second position of the settingmeans, and from the second position to a third position. The machine canthen be shifted from the third to the second position, and from thesecond position to the first position. A shifting from the thirdposition directly to the first position by a single step is not possiblein the control devices of the prior art. It is one object of the presentinvention to overcome this disadvantage of the prior art, and to providea control device for setting the needles of a knitting machine in anydesired and selected sequence.

Another object of the present invention is to Provide a reliablyoperating control device in which the needles of a knitting machine areset to different positions in any desired sequence for obtaining adesired design of a fabric knitted on the machine.

With these objects in view, the present invention mainly consists in acontrol device for setting the needles of a knitting machine, thecontrol device comprising a lifting cam shiftable between a plurality ofsetting positions for setting the needles; and a plurality of controlmembers operatively connected to the setting means and being shiftablefrom an inoperative position to a control position for shifting thesetting means to diiferent setting positions; arresting means aremovable between a releasing position and an arresting position forarresting any one of the control members in the control position. Thearresting means are shifted to the releasing position by each controlmember which moves from the inoperative position to the controlposition. In this manner any other control member held in its controlposition by the arresting means is released, and returns to itsinoperative position, and moreover, all control means can be returned toan inoperative position. Consequently, the lifting cam can be shifted tothe setting positions in any selected order and any desired pattern canbe knitted on the machine.

For each setting position of the setting means, a control pin isprovided, and whenever a control pin is moved to its control positionfor shifting the lifting cam, any control pin which is in controlposition, is automatically returned to its inoperative position.

The selection of the control member which is to be operated is effectedby selector means which are shiftable between an inoperative positionand a plurality of operative positions respectively located opposite oneof the hired rates fPatent core is mounted on a bar passing through thecoils. 'bar is connected in a suitable manner to the selector means3,035,425 Patented May 22, 1962 control pins. The selector means,preferably a lever, is turnable in each operative position to and froman actuating position for shifting the respective control pin to itscontrol position. Cam means are provided which rotate with the needlecylinder for shifting the selector lever to its actuating position whenthe selector lever is in one of its operative positions during passageof the cam means.

After each shifting of the selector lever to its operative position bythe cam means, the selector means automatically returns to itsinoperative position. This has the advantage, that the cam produces ashifting movement only when a shifting of the setting means is required,and passes the selector lever by, when no shifting of the setting meansis necessary. In this manner, wear of the interengaging parts is limitedto a minimum.

The selector lever is preferably mounted on a bar which ismovablebetween a plurality of shifted positions corre 'sponding to theoperative positions of the setting lever. This bar may be operated byBowden cable means through a turnable lug member. According to amodified arrangement, the selector means is shifted between itsoperative position by electromagnetic means. For example, a plurality ofcoils, respectively associated with the operative positions and with theinoperative position of the selector means, act on a core means which isoperatively connected to the selector means. The coils of theelectromagnetic means are aligned in axail direction, and the The sothat the same is shifted between its positions in accordance with theenergization of the electromagnetic coils.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a row of controlpins is shiftably mounted in axial direction in a support, and the freeends of all control pins act on a lateral edge of the setting means.This edge extends at an angle to the free ends of the control pins, sothat movement of each control pin through the same distance will effecta different angluar displacement of the turntable setting means. The pinlocated closer to the turning axis of the setting means will produceturning through a greater angle than the pin which is spaced a greaterdistance from the turning axis of the setting means. Furthermore, if thecontrol pins are operated by a selector lever, the pin which is farthestspaced from the turning axis -of the selector lever, will be moved thegreatest distance.

The control pins are provided with inclined catch means, preferably offrusto-conical shape, and the arresting means preferably includes anarresting bar in the form of a leafspring which is shifted to releasingpositionby the inclined catch portion, but arrests any one of thecontrol pins by engaging under the catch portion when the respectivecontrol pin has moved to its control position. Spring means are providedfor returning released control pins to inoperative positions.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view of the control device according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front view illustrating the con- 3 trol deviceon a larger scale, and being partially in section;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a detail, partially in section;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a detail taken on line 4-4 inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view, partially in section, illustratingthe selector means according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 5taken on line 66 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of a Bowden cable arrangement appliedin the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 6, a ring24 to which the cap 25 is secured is fixedly mounted on an annular bed23. The needle cylinder 26 is turnably mounted in member 25 for rotationabout a vertical axis, and supports cylinder needles 1 for verticalmovement. Needle cylinder 26 is seated on a drive ring 40 provided withgear teeth meshing with the gear 28 driven from a drive motor. Thehorizontal dial 27 is connected to the needle cylinder 26 for rotationtherewith. Dial 27 has radially extending grooves in which a set of dialneedles 1a is movably mounted.

A fixed dial cam cap 28 is located above dial 27 and supports dialneedle cams 29 which cooperate with the butts 1d of dial needles 1a.Cams 30, 31, 32 are provided on member 25 and include a cam face 25'.The other part of the cam race in which butts 1c are guided, isconstituted by fixed member 2a, and by needle lifting cams 2. The dialneedles 1a are controlled by cam means 29, and the cylinder needles 1are controlled by cam means 2 and 30, 31, 32 to be advanced andretracted to produce a ribbed fabric.

During the knitting of the fabric of this type, cylinder needles 1 aremoved to the highest latch clearing position, and dial needles 1a aremoved to the most advanced position for knitting loops. In this mostadvanced position, the hooks of needles 1 are located in the positionIII in FIG. 1. In the position II of FIG. 1, needles 1 are in the tuckposition in which their latches do not clear the previously formedloops, and in position I the loops are knocked over. At the same time,the dial needles 1a are retracted to their innermost position by cammeans 29.

Shortly before the cylinder needles reach the position illustrated inFIG. 1, the respective butt passes over the cam face 25 so that theneedle is retracted to position I. During further movement, the needle 1passes with butt 1c onto the upper cam face 2' of a lifting cam 2. Inposition I of lifting cam 2, the came face 2 is horizontal so that theneedle 1 is not lifted, but passes in inoperative retracted positionwithout performing a knitting operation. If lifting cam 2 is raised toposition H, the cam face 2 is raised and inclined, as indicated bydashand-dot lines, so that neeedle 1 is lifted to tuck position II. Iflifting cam 2 is further turned about shaft 2a to position III, itsupper edge 2 is located even higher, and butt 1c and needle 1 are raisedto the most advanced knit position III. Thereupon, cams 31 and 32cooperate with butt 10 to retract needle 1 which further passes throughthe needle race between cam 32 and cam 212.

It is evident that by turning of lifting cam 2 between the threepositions I, II, III, the movement of the cylinder needles can becontrolled.

Each lifting cam 2 is operated by control pin members 3 and 4 which aremounted in a support 6. The pins 3, 4 and 5 are operated by a selectorlever 12.

Support 6 has three bores for the control pins 3, 4 and 5, and a cover7. Springs 8 are provided for each control pin, and urge the respectivecontrol pin to its retracted inoperative position. Each control pin isprovided with an inclined catch means 9 of frusto-conical shape which isbelow cover 7 in the inoperative position of the respective controlpins. The openings 7a in cover 7 permit passage of the frusto-conicalportions 9. When any one pin is advanced in upward directoin as viewedin FIGS. 1 and 2, the catch means 9 passes the arresting bar 11b of anarresting means 11 which is mounted on a pin 10 for movement transverseto the row of pins 3, 4, 5. When any one catch portion 9 passes bar 11b,the arresting means 11 is pivoted to a releasing position, and thensnaps under the catch portion 9 to hold the respective control pin in anadvanced control position. The arresting bar 11b is long enough tocooperate with all three catch portions 9 and is urged by a spring 11a,see FIG. 3, to its arresting position. Assuming that one of the controlpins 3, 4, 5 is arrested in its control position by the arresting means11, it will be released by arresting bar 11b when another control pin ismoved to its control position, since the catch portion 9 of the othercontrol pin will be effective to move the arresting bar 11b to itsreleasing position for a time sufliciently long to permit the respectivespring 8 to retract the control pin which previously was in controlposition.

As best seen in FIG. 2, pins 3 and 4 are of different length, and theupper ends of pins 3 and 4 engage the lower edge 2" of lifting cam 2when lifting cam 2 is in its lowest position I in which cam face 2' willnot lift a cylinder needle 1.

Control members 3, 4 and 5 are selectively operated by a selector levermeans 12, as shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. Selector lever 12 is mounted onthe head portion 14 of a shiftable bar 17 on a pin 13 which permitsturning movement of selector lever 12 to an actuating position forshifting one of the control pins 3, 4 and 5. Bar 17 is shiftable inaxial direction and is supported in bearings 15 and 16. A spring 18urges bar 17 to the normal position illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 inwhich the selector lever 12 is in its inoperative zero position. Thefree end of bar 17 engages a lug member 19 which is turnable about a pin20 between a plurality of positions for shifting bar 17 from theillustrative normal position to three shifted positions in which lever12 is located opposite one of the pins 3, 4 and 5 which are arranged ina row inclined to the direction of lever 12. For example, when bar 17 isshifted one step, lever 12 will be located underneath control pin 3 inthe position III, and when elever 12 is then turned about pin 13 to anactuated raised position, pin 3 will be engaged and shifted to itsadvanced position turning lifting cam 2 to position III thereof. Whenselector means 17, 14, 12 are shifted one step further, lever 12 will belocated underneath pin 4 and turning of lever 12 will shift pin 4 to araised position in which lifting cam 2 is held in its position II. Whenthe selector means is shifted to the third position I in which lever 12is located underneath pin 5, turning of lever 12 will raise pin 5 sothat arresting bar 11b is operated by the frusto-conical catch means 9of pin 5 to release any previously advanced pin 3 or 4 which is returnedby spring 8 thereof to its normal retracted position illustrated in FIG.2 permitting lifting cam 2 to return to its lowest position I.

Selector lever 12 has a bracket 12d to which a spring 12b is attached,as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The other end of spring 12b is secured to apart 14a of member 14 so that selector lever 12 remains spring-loadedwhen the ielgctor means 17, 14 are shifted with lever 12 and springBowden cable means are secured to the turnable pin 20 of the control lug19 for turning the same. The Bowden cable means are preferably operatedby the pattern device of the machine, and shift selector lever 12 inaccordance with the desired design and pattern of the knitted fabric.

As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of Bowden cables is provided, the numberof which corresponds to the number of knitting stations or feeds of themachine, so that each Bowden cable controls one knitting station.- Ateach knitting station, one end of the respective Bowden cable is woundabout a portion 20a of increased diameter of a pin 20, and is secured tothe same by screw Zilb so that the respective pin 20 is turned when theBowden cable is shifted. The Bowden cables extend along thecircumference of the machine and slide in grooves 200 of other pins 20at other knitting stations. The portions 20a of different pins 26 areaxially staggered in accordance with the location of the respectiveBowden cable. The other end of each Bowden cable passes in a loop abouta roll 32 and is secured to the same so that the Bowden cable is shiftedand the respective pin 20 is angularly displaced when roll 32 is turned.

Consequently, the Bowden cables are of different length, the uppermostBowden cable 21a being the longest and having the greatestcircumferential extension so that another roll 32 does not interferewith the lower Bowden cables. Roll 32' of FIG. 7 is secured to the freeend of the lowest and shortest Bowden cable 2111 which is connected to aportion 20a, not shown, which is aligned with Bowden cable 21b.

Each roll 32 is mounted on a pin 33 which is turnable in the machine bed23. Fixedly connected to roll 32' is a lever 35 which is urged by aspring 35 against a stop 36 on the machine bed. In this position, theBowden cable acts through a pin 20 on the respective lug 19 to hold itin the position shown in FIG. 5, so that the selector lever 12 is in theposition.

The free end 34a of lever 34 is located adjacent the pattern chain 37,which passes about the chain wheel 39 turnably about a shaft 38. Chainwheel 39 is connected to the driven means 28 so that the speed of chain37 corresponds to the driven speed of needle cylinder 26. Cam lugs 38a,33b and 38c of different height and respectively corresponding topositions I, II and III, are secured to the chain and move with the sameto actuate the lever 34 by engaging portion 34a. When cam lug 38aengages cam follower lever 3d, lever 34 and roll 32' turn and Bowdencable 21 is shifted to such extent that lug 19 turns to effect movementof the selector lever 12 to a position located below pin 3. The cam 22is secured to the ring 40 which rotates with the needle cylinder.

When cam 22 passes lever 12, the lifting cam is set to position 111.When the next higher cam lug 38b actuates lever 34, Bowden cable 21 isshifted to move selector 12 under pin 4 to move the lifting cam 2, toposition II. The highest cam lug 38c turns roll 32' and lug 19 to shiftselector lever 12 into the region of the clearing pin so that liftingcam 2 returns to the position I, since either pin 3, or pin 4 is cleareddue to the operation of the arresting bar 11 by the knitting pin 5.Since the Bowden cable rolls 32' are urged by spring 35 acting on lever34 to a normal position in which the lug 19 is in 0 position, lug 19 andlever 12 automatically move back to 0 position after each actuation ofthe selector lever 12.

As explained above, the selector lever 12 can be shifted in each of itsoperative positions I, II, and III to an actuated position, and suchshifting is effected by the cam 22 which turns in synchronism with theknitting machine and is secured to drive ring 40 of needle cylinder 26for rotation with the same about the cylinder axis. The spring 12b urgesselector lever 12 to its normal position 12a illustrated in dash and dotlines, while the dwell of cam 22 shifts selector lever 12 to itsactuated position when passing selector lever 12. Parts 23, 24 and 25are stationary, and during each revolution of the needle cylinder 26,cam lug 22 passes selector lever 12 once. If selector lever 12 is in theZero position thereof, it is raised and turned about pivot 13, but doesnot engage one of the pins 3, i or 5. In the shifted positions I, II orIII, the selector lever 12 actuates pins 3, 4 or 5 when raised by thepassing cam lug 2. Consequently, each lifting cam 2 is operated onceduring each revolution of the needle cylinder, if selector lever 12 isplaced underneath pins 3 or 4-. If selector lever 12 is placedunderneath pin 5,

pins 3 and 4 are cleared, and lifting cam 2 remains in its lowestinoperative position I. As explained above, only one of the control pins3, 4 and 5 is raised by the actuated selector lever 12 corresponding tothe shifted operative position of the same. Lever 12 is engaged by cam22 in all three operative positions, since cam 22 is wide enough andextends over all three control pins 3, 4 and 5, as best seen in FIG. 5.When the cam dwell has passed the selector lever, bar 17 is returned byspring 18 to its inoperative position, and selector lever 12 againassumes its normal Zero position.

Consequently, lifting cam 2, and needles 1 are shifted and set after theselector lever 12 has moved from normal zero position to one of itsoperative positions.

Every time selector lever 12 in one of its operative positions isshifted to actuated position by cam 22, and one of the control pins 3and 4 is raised to a control position, and the lifting cam 2 engaged bythe respective pin is turned through a corresponding angle for settingthe needles 1 correspondingly.

As explained above, each control pin 3, 4, and 5 in control position isarrested by the arresting means 11 and remains in its control positionuntil another control pin is raised. The frusto-conical catch member 9of the other control pin pushes the arresting bar 11b back, so that thepreviously arrested control pin is released and returns to its retractedposition under the action of the respective spring 8. Thereupon,arresting bar 11b returns to arresting position under the action ofspring 11a, and engages the groove under frosts-conical catch por tion 9of the advanced control pin which is thus held in control position untilanother control pin is shifted.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofcontrol devices for knitting machines differing from the types describedabove.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in acontrol device for shifting the setting means of a knitting machine inany selected order, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown, since various modifications and structural changes may be madewithout departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing Will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and,therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehendedwithin the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Control device for setting the needles of a knitting machine, andcomprising, in combination, lifting cam means shiftable between aplurality of setting positions for setting the needles; a plurality ofcontrol members operatively connected to said lifting cam means, eachcontrol member being shiftable from an inoperative position to a controlposition for shifting said lifting cam means to a different settingposition, said control members tending to assume said inoperativeposition; cam means adapted for moving in synchronism with the knittingmachine; selector means shiftable between an inoperative position and aplurality of operative position respectively located opposite one ofsaid control members, said selector means tending to return to saidinoperative position, said selector means being shiftable in each ofsaid operative positions to and from an actuating position for shiftingthe respective control member to said control position thereof, saidselector means being shifted to said actuating positions by said cammeans in each of said operative positions thereof and returning to saidinoperative position after each actuation by said cam means; shiftingmeans for shifting said selector means to selected operative positionsthereof; and arresting means movable between a releasing position and anarresting position for arresting any one of said control members in saidcontrol position thereof. 7

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shifting means includeBowden cable means.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shifting means includeelectromagnetic means.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said electromagnetic meansinclude a core means connected to said selector means, and a pluralityof coaxially arranged coils in which said core means is movable in axialdirection, whereby said selector means is shifted to selected operativepositions by selective energization of said coils.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein one coil of saidelectromagnetic means is provided for each of said operative positions,and one coil is provided for said inoperative position of said selectormeans.

6. Control device for setting the needles of a knitting machine, andcomprising, in combination, lifting cam means shiftable between aplurality of setting positions for setting the needles; a plurality ofcontrol members operatively connected to said lifting cam means, eachcontrol member being shiftable from an inoperative position to a controlposition for shifting said lifting cam means to a different settingposition, said control members tending to assume said inoperativeposition; cam means adapted for moving in synchronism with the knittingmachine; selector means shiftable between a plurality of operativepositions respectively located opposite one of said control members,said selector mean being shiftable in each of said operative positionsto and from an actuating position for shifting the respective controlmember to said control position thereof, said selector means beingshifted to said actuating positions by said cam means in each of saidoperative positions thereof; a bar shiftable between a normal positionand a plurality of shifted positions, said shiftable bar supporting saidselector means for movement to and from said actuating positions andshifting said selector means between said operative positions whenmoving to said shifted positions thereof; and spring means for urgingsaid bar to said normal position; a turnable lug member engaging saidbar and adapted to be turned between a plurality of positions for movingsaid shiftable bar from said inoperative position to said shiftedpositions.

7. Control device for setting the needles of a knitting machine, andcomprising, in combination, lifting cam means pivotable between aplurality of setting positions for setting the needles; a support; aplurality of control members operatively connected to said lifting cammeans, each control member being mounted in said support shiftable thesame distance from an inoperative position to a control position forshifting said lifting cam means to a different setting position; andmeans for moving any one of said control members to said controlposition thereof.

8. Control device for setting the needles of a knitting machine, andcomprising, in combination, a lifting cam means turnable between aplurality of setting positions for setting the needles; a support; aplurality of control members mounted in said support shiftable from aninoperative position to a control position for engaging said lifting cammeans for shifting said lifting cam means to different settingpositions; Spring means urging each of said control members to assumesaid inoperative position; and means for moving any one of said controlmembers to said control position thereof.

9. Control device for setting the needles of a knitting machine, andcomprising, in combination, a lifting cam means turnable between aplurality of setting positions for setting the needles; a support; aplurality of control members mounted in said support shiftable from aninoperative position to a control position for engaging said lifting cammeans for shifting said lifting cam means to different settingpositions; spring means urging each of said control members to assumesaid inoperative position; cam means adapted for moving in synchronismwith the knitting machine; selector means shiftable between a pluralityof operative positions respectively located opposite one of said controlmembers, said selector means being shiftable in each of said operativepositions to and from an actuating position for shifting the respectivecontrol member to said control position thereof, said selector meansbeing shifted to said actuating positions by said cam means in each ofsaid operative positions thereof; and shifting means for shifting saidselector means to selected operative positions thereof.

10. Control device for setting the needles of a knitting machine, andcomprising, in combination, a lifting cam means turnable between aplurality of setting positions for setting the needles; a support; aplurality of control memmers mounted in said support shiftable from aninoperative position to a control position for engaging said lifting cammeans for shifting said lifting cam means to different settingpositions, and a clearing control member having a control positionspaced from said lifting cam means; spring means urging each of saidcontrol members to assume said inoperative position; means for movingany one of said control members to said control position thereof; andarresting means movable be tween a releasing position and an arrestingposition for arresting any one of said control members in said controlposition thereof, said arresting bar being shifted to said releasingposition by each of said control members moving from said inoperativeposition to said control position for releasing any other control memberheld in said control position by said arresting bar so that therespective released control member returns to said inoperative position,whereby said lifting cam means can be shifted to said setting positionsin any selected order.

11. Control device for setting the needles of a knitting machine, andcomprising, in combination, lifting cam means shiftable between aplurality of setting positions for setting the needles; a plurality ofcontrol pin members operatively connected to said lifting cam means,each control pin member being shiftable from an inoperative position toa control position for shifting said lifting cam means to a differentsetting position, said control pin members tending to assume saidinoperative position each control pin member having a catch portion;means for moving any one of said control members to said controlposition thereof; and arresting means movable between a releasingposition and an arresting position for arresting any one of said controlmembers in said control position thereof by engaging said catch portion.

12. Control device for setting the needles of a knitting machine, andcomprising, in combination, lifting cam means shiftable between aplurality of setting positions for setting the needles; a plurality ofcontrol pin members operatively connected to said lifting cam means,each control pin member being shiftable from an inoperative position toa control position for shifting said lifting cam means to a differentsetting position, said control pin members tending to assume saidinoperative position each control pin member having an frusto-conicalcatch portion; means for moving any one of said control members to saidcontrol position thereof; and arresting means including an arresting bartransversely movable between a releasing position and an arrestingposition for arresting any one of said control members in said controlposition thereof by engaging under said frusto-conical catch portion,said arresting means being shifted to said releasing position by saidfrusto-conical catch portion of each of said control members moving fromsaid inoperative position to said control position for releasing anyother control pin member held in said control position by said arrestingmeans so that the respective released control member returns to saidinoperative position, whereby said lifting cam means can be shifted tosaid setting positions in any selected order.

13. Control device for setting the needles of a knitting machine andcomprising, in combination, a lifting cam means turnable between aplurality of setting positions for setting the needles; a support; aplurality of control pins arranged in a row, each control pin beingmounted in said support shiftable from an inoperative position to acontrol position for engaging an edge of said lifting cam means forshifting said lifting cam means to different setting positions, saidedge being inclined to said pins, each control pin having an inclinedcatch portion; spring means urging each of said control pins to assumesaid inoperative position; means for moving any one of said control pinsto said control position thereof; and an arresting bar extending alongsaid row of control pins and being mounted on said suport movable in atransverse direction between a releasing position and an arrestingposition for arresting any one of said control pins in said controlposition thereof by engaging under said inclined catch portion, saidarresting bar tending to move to said arresting position and beingshifted to said releasing position by the catch portion of each of saidcontrol pins when the same moves from said inoperative position to saidcontrol position so that any other control pin held in said controlposition by said arresting bar is released and returns to saidinoperative position whereby said lifting cam means can be shifted tosaid setting positions in any selected order.

14. Control device for setting the needles of a knitting machine andcomprising, in combination, a lifting cam means turnable betwen aplurality of setting positions for setting the needles; a support; aplurality of control pins arranged in a row, each control pin beingmounted in said support shiftable from an inoperative position to acontrol position for engaging an edge of said lifting cam means forshifting said lifting cam means to different setting positions, saidedge being inclined to said pins, each control pin having an inclinedcatch portion; spring means urging each of said control pins to assumesaid inoperative position; cam menas adapted for moving in synchronismwith the knitting machine; selector means shiftable between a pluralityof operative positions respectively located opposite one of said controlmembers, said selector means being shiftable in each of said operativepositions to and from an actuating position for shifting the respectivecontrol member to said control position thereof, said selector meansbeing shifted to said actuating positions by said cam means in each ofsaid operative positions thereof; shifting means for shifting saidselector means to selected operative positions thereof; and an arrestingbar extending along said row of control pins and being mounted on saidsupport movable in a transverse direction between a releasing positionand an arresting position for arresting any one of said control pins insaid control position thereof by engaging under said inclined catchportion, said arresting bar tending to move to said arresting positionand being shifted to said releasing position by the catch portion ofeach of said control pins when the same moves from said inoperativeposition to said control position so that any other control pin held insaid control position by said arresting bar is released and returns tosaid inoperative position whereby said lifting cam means can be shiftedto said setting positions in any selected order.

15. Control device for setting the needles of a knitting machine andcomprising, in combination, a lifting am means turnable between aplurality of setting positions for setting the needles; a support; aplurality of control pins arranged in a row, each control pin beingmounted in said support shiftable from an inoperative position to acontrol position for engaging an edge of said lifting cam means forshifting said lifting cam setting means to different setting positions,said edge being inclined to said pins, each control pin having aninclined catch portion; spring means urging each of said control pins toassume said inoperative position; cam means adapted for moving insynchronism with the knitting machine; selector means shiftable betweenan inoperative position and a plurality of operative positionsrespectively located opposite one of said control members, said selectormeans tending to return to said inoperative position, saidselector meansbeing shiftable in each of said operative positions to and from anactuating position for shifting the respective control member to saidcontrol position thereof, said selector means being shifted to saidactuating positions by said cam means in each of said operativepositions thereof and returning to said inoperative position after eachactuation by said cam means; shifting means for shifting said selectormeans to selected operative positions thereof; and an arresting barextending along said row of control pins and being mounted on saidsupport movable in a transverse direction between a releasing positionand an arresting position for arresting any one of said control pins insaid control position thereof by engaging under said inclined catchportion, said arresting bar tending to move to said arresting positionand being shifted to said releasing position by the catch portion ofeach of said control pins when the same moves from said inoperativeposition to said control position so that any other control pin held insaid control position by said arresting bar is released and returns tosaid inoperative position whereby said lifting cam means can be shiftedto said setting positions in any selected order.

16. Control'device for setting the needles of a knitting machine andcomprising, in combination, a lifting cam means turnable between aplurality of setting positions for setting the needles; a support; aplurality of control pins arranged in a row, each control pin beingmounted in said support shiftable from an inoperative position to acontrol position for engaging an edge of said lifting cam means forshifting said lifting cam means to different setting positions, saidedge being inclined to said pins, each control pin having an inclinedcatch portion; spring means urging each of said control pins to assumesaid inoperative position; cam means adapted for moving in synchronismwith the knitting machine; selector means shiftable between aninoperative position and a plurality of operative positions respectivelylocated opposite one of said control members, said selector meanstending to return to said inoperative position, said selector meansbeing shiftable in each of said operative positions to and from anactuatting position for shifting the respective control member to saidcontrol position thereof, said selector means being shifted to saidactuating positions by said cam means in each of said operativepositions thereof and returning to said inoperative position after eachactuation by said cam means; a bar shiftable between a normal positionand a plurality of shifted positions, said shiftable bar supporting saidselector means for movement to and from said actuating positions andshifting said selector means between said operative positions whenmoving to said shifted positions thereof; spring means for urging saidbar to said normal position; a turnable lug member engaging said bar andadapted to be turned between a pinrality of positions for moving saidshiftable bar from said inoperative position to said shifted positions;an arresting bar extending along said row of control pins and beingmounted on said support movable in a transverse direction between areleasing position and an arresting position for arresting any one ofsaid control pins in said control position thereof by engaging undersaid inclined catch portion, said arresting bar tending to move to saidarresting position and being shifted to said releasing position by thecatch portion of each of said control pins when the same moves from saidinoperative position to said control position so that any other controlpin held in said control position by said arresting bar is released andreturns to said inoperative position whereby said lifting cam means canbe shifted to said setting positions in any selected order.

17. A device as set forth in claim 16 wherein said selector means is alever pivotally mounted on said bar for movement to and from saidactuating position; and including spring means urging said lever out ofsaid actuating position.

18. A device as set forth in claim 17, wherein said cam means is arotary cam ring having a single cam dwell engaging said lever onceduring each revolution for shifting said lever to said actuatingposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS MillerOct. 28, 1941 Wildt 'et a1. Dec. 25,.1945 Miller Dec. 14, 1954 ShortlandJuly 31, 1956

